Two Illawarra teachers were recognised in the NSW Government's annual Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher Awards. The event earlier this week in Sydney recognised 23 teachers who have displayed exemplary, innovative and compassionate teaching practice. Warilla High School teacher Renee Pettit received the highest accreditation possible when she was presented with a Lead Teacher award. Corrimal High School teacher Joel Foster also excelled to take home a Highly Accomplished award. NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the awards celebrated and acknowledged teachers in NSW who have gone above and beyond to deliver truly stimulating teaching programs to hundreds of lucky students across the state. Mrs Pettit said her recognition highlighted the good work being done by Warilla High teachers. Just last month Warilla duo Melanie Lever and Glen Smart were presented with the Minister's Award for Excellence in Teaching. "Our school has been working really hard to continue the professional learning and professional improvement of all teachers," Mrs Pettit said. "I've been accredited with a Lead, which is the highest level that teachers can be accredited at, and they have had to have demonstrated leadership both within the school and beyond the school as well beyond your own classrooms. "Warilla High are lucky enough to have three teachers who are accredited at the higher level, and we will have another four in the next 12 months. "This is incredible for a illawarra school to have that amount of teachers because it is a very rigorous process to go through to be accredited. "Your practice needs to be examined or observed by a number of colleagues within the school and outside of the school. "An external observer actually comes in and watches your every move for an entire day, which is kind of nerve-racking but a really rewarding experience. "Then you have to produce a substantial amount of evidence to demonstrate that you have met all 37 standards expected of you. "So to have so many teachers from the one school working at that level is a real testament to the school and to the senior leadership of the school who promoted that as well." Read more: Warilla High School educators scoop up major awards Joel Foster was also ecstatic to be recognised in such a way. 'For me personally to achieve my Highly Accomplished it indicated to me that what I do in my classroom, what I do every day, day in day out is definitely making a difference in the classroom," he said. "It is helping not only the students in my classroom and the whole school but that of my community." Mr Foster's students made a little video expressing how much they like the TAS teacher's lessons. Read more: Bittersweet farewell as TIGS teacher retires after 35 years "I would highly recommend any teacher out there to look into the Highly Accomplished and Lead application process. It is tough but definitely rewarding," he said.

NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the awards celebrated and acknowledged teachers in NSW who have gone above and beyond to deliver truly stimulating teaching programs to hundreds of lucky students across the state.

Mrs Pettit said her recognition highlighted the good work being done by Warilla High teachers.

"Our school has been working really hard to continue the professional learning and professional improvement of all teachers," Mrs Pettit said.

"I've been accredited with a Lead, which is the highest level that teachers can be accredited at, and they have had to have demonstrated leadership both within the school and beyond the school as well beyond your own classrooms.

"Warilla High are lucky enough to have three teachers who are accredited at the higher level, and we will have another four in the next 12 months.

"This is incredible for a illawarra school to have that amount of teachers because it is a very rigorous process to go through to be accredited.

"Your practice needs to be examined or observed by a number of colleagues within the school and outside of the school.

"An external observer actually comes in and watches your every move for an entire day, which is kind of nerve-racking but a really rewarding experience.

"Then you have to produce a substantial amount of evidence to demonstrate that you have met all 37 standards expected of you.

"So to have so many teachers from the one school working at that level is a real testament to the school and to the senior leadership of the school who promoted that as well."

'For me personally to achieve my Highly Accomplished it indicated to me that what I do in my classroom, what I do every day, day in day out is definitely making a difference in the classroom," he said.

"It is helping not only the students in my classroom and the whole school but that of my community."

Mr Foster's students made a little video expressing how much they like the TAS teacher's lessons.